Understanding self-governance efforts in small-scale coastal fisheries may hold the clue to establishing effective coastal fisheries policies or strengthening existing ones. Here, we explored the diversity and the rationale behind the self-devised control rules implemented by two groups
of coastal fishers in Peru, and the pathways to promote compliance under self-governance systems, as a prerequisite to sustain such efforts. We drew on an exploratory methodological approach and used semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire, designed following Ostrom's socio-ecological
system (SES) framework, to characterize each experience. A compliance framework was used to identify the pathways and factors driving compliance. Results showed a variety of informal control rules have been set and used by fishers, from catch limits to patrolling activities. Each addresses
specific fisheries governance and management issues. Results also showed that setting control rules has not been a one-time event; instead, it is an evolving learning process. Furthermore, both traditional (La Islilla) and non-traditional (Ilo) SES frameworks have built their own ways to promote
compliance and sustain self-governance efforts. These two experiences provide insights for understanding self-governance of coastal fisheries, with particular attention to identifying ways to improve the governability of small-scale fisheries through cogovernance type arrangements.

This article was made available online on October 21, 2016 as a Fast Track article with title: "The importance of understanding self-governance efforts in coastal fisheries in Peru: insights from La Islilla and Ilo".

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The Bulletin of Marine Science is dedicated to the dissemination of high quality research from the world's oceans. All aspects of marine science are treated by the Bulletin of Marine Science, including papers in marine biology, biological oceanography, fisheries, marine affairs, applied marine physics, marine geology and geophysics, marine and atmospheric chemistry, and meteorology and physical oceanography.